Author Topic: Fog of war (Read 1194 times)

Fastbikkel · « **on:** June 27, 2001, 09:25:00 AM »

Howdy guys,

Just wanted to clear things up.
Fog of war is something which all commanders are scared of.
People who go to war may experience some sort of "total apathy" or "total empty mind" also known as fog of war. Probably because the situation they are in is so terrible, they don't get it!
This may last a few seconds of longer, depending wether you get shot or get to clear thinking again.

This is very well shown in "saving private ryan" where "tom hanks" is on the beach and he cannot hear anything and he is just staring away in the distance, not fully understanding what is going on.

So, fog of war is not when your radar is disabled and you cannot see. It is a state of mind.
And the reason why the commanders are so scared of it, is that their officers on the battlefield may not be able to make sound decisions like they did in practise.

Thanks,

JG5FaBi.

Fastbikkel · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2001, 09:48:00 AM »

Ever heard of "shell shock"??

Take a look at ww1 documents, you'll never want to be in a situation that those guys were in.

Greetings,

JG5FaBi.

Badger · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2001, 10:56:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fastbikkel:
People who go to war may experience some sort of "total apathy" or "total empty mind" also known as fog of war. Probably because the situation they are in is so terrible, they don't get it!.

Hi Fastbikkel...

Sorry, but this is not the definition of "fog of war" as applied to military thinking. Both your posts and examples describe something more akin to combat fatigue then fog of war.

In his classic book On War, Carl von Clausewitz famously wrote: "War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty." Ever since, "the fog of war" has been a standard concept in military theory.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374186278/thewartimesjourn/102-3420578-2565717

The fog of war is a popular phrase used to describe aspects of combat that are different from training and that are difficult to train for in peacetime. Joint Publication 1, Joint Warfare of the Armed Forces of the United States states that “…friction, chance, and uncertainty still characterize battle. Their cumulative effect comprises ‘the fog of war’.”
http://www.au.af.mil/au/database/research/ay1997/acsc/97-0428.htm

Then of course, there's SUPERFLY's definition.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/Forum3/HTML/000093.html

Hangtime · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2001, 04:49:00 PM »

Badger... it it you?? are yah back??

Welcome home, bud! <S!>

Pongo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2001, 05:59:00 PM »

Thanks Badger...
I thought I was on pretty solid ground with my use of Fog of war in Zigs uber ack thread.

Fastbikkel · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2001, 11:15:00 PM »

hmmm, i thought i was right.

i saw this on discovery channel once.

Thanks for enlightening me.

Greetings,

JG5FaBi.

Badger · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2001, 10:19:00 AM »

Hey Hangtime....

Sent you a private UBB response.

It said it went, but don't know if it actually works.

So, let me know if you didn't get anything and I'll use email.

Regards,
Doug (Badger)

[ 06-28-2001: Message edited by: Badger ]